Peach Aviation (MM) - usually just called Peach - is a Japanese low-cost carrier that connects travelers across Japan and throughout East and Southeast Asia. Operating from its head office at Kansai International Airport (KIX) and with operations at Naha (OKA), Sendai (SDJ) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT), it’s the kind of budget airline where you’ll pay for nearly everything beyond your seat.
That business model has generally made it an unattractive option for me, though it might work perfectly for your travel style.
Fare types, seats and legroom
Like most low-cost airlines, Peach operates with three fare tiers that determine what’s included in your ticket. Understanding these upfront will save you from surprise fees later.
The Peach fare structure works like this:
Minimum includes only your ticket - you’ll pay to select a seat or check a bag, and refunds and changes are impossible.
Standard adds free selection of certain seats, one checked bag, but changes and refunds still aren’t available (though you may receive Peach points after fee deduction in some cases).
Standard Plus lets you select most seats for free, check one bag and change your ticket as many times as you want without a fee (refunds go back to your original payment method after fee deduction)..
As someone who rarely checks bags or changes plans, I typically buy Minimum and add-ons à la carte, though your strategy may be different depending on your travel needs.
Fast Seat
Peach sells the bulkhead rows onboard all its aircraft as the Fast Area. In addition to offering the most legroom of any seat, the location at the front of the aircraft means that you can get off the plane first. I find this to be a feature worth paying for, even if the lack of underseat storage (due to the bulkhead wall) is disappointing.
Note that only passengers traveling on Standard Plus fares can select Fast Area seats (for an additional fee) - they’re not available to Minimum or Standard fare customers at all. If you want a Fast Area seat, you’ll need to spring for the Standard Plus fare and then pay the additional seat fee on top of that.
Smart Seat
Smart Seats are referenced in fare benefits and offer certain advantages. Notably, Smart Seat selection is an included perk of both the Standard and Standard Plus fares. If you don’t absolutely need the bulkhead but want extra legroom and to be seated near the front of the plane, a Smart Seat is the best option.
Exit row seats may have certain restrictions due to safety regulations.
Pleasure Seat
Pleasure Seats don’t offer extra legroom but can provide other benefits depending on their location. These seats situate you closer to the front of the plane, or offer you a window view.
Free Pleasure Seat selection is an included perk of both the Standard and Standard Plus fares, which can make this a worthwhile upcharge if you also plan to check a bag, or if you think you might need some flexibility with your booking.
Standard Seat
The Standard Seat is just like it sounds: An ordinary seat, with the standard very cramped Peach leg room. Although Standard and Standard Plus passengers can select these seats for free, I’d just as soon allow for automatic seat selection during check-in and take my chances.
Pre-flight experience
Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with Peach.
Baggage policy and fees
The Peach baggage policy is relatively lenient for a low-cost carrier. All passengers get 7 kg (15 lbs) of cabin baggage that can be split between two bags (one carry-on bag plus one personal item), while Standard and Standard Plus fares include one checked bag.
On this last point, my own personal experience has been that Peach ground staff only strictly enforce limits on carry-on size and weight when you’re traveling out of Kansai Airport (KIX). I’ve never had my bags scrutinized at any other airports when flying Peach.
Check-in
Peach allows for check-in on its app for domestic Japan itineraries, though this is only possible between 90-35 minutes before the flight. Because of this strange restriction, I usually just opt to use an airport kiosk to check-in.
Onboard experience
Here’s what you can expect onboard a Peach flight.
Wi-Fi and entertainment
Since Peach doesn’t offer traditional in-flight entertainment, download your shows and music before boarding. This is especially smart on longer routes like Osaka-Okinawa and all international flights.
Amenities
Peach doesn’t offer any amenities free of charge. However, blankets, pillows and duty-free items may be available for purchase onboard.
Lounges
Peach passengers aren’t automatically entitled to lounge access. However, certain passengers (i.e. those holding a Priority Pass credential) may be able to enjoy lounge access at certain airports, mostly those outside of Japan.
If you’re flying out of Kansai Airport, check the Priority Pass website for current lounge options, as availability can change.
If you use any facilities outside Terminal 2, keep in mind the transit time between terminals. In other words, you’ll want to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to departure.
Loyalty programs, miles and credit cards
Rather than operating a traditional frequent flyer program, Peach offers passengers the ability to collect Peach Points. You can use these to pay for future flights, as well as for add-ons like seat selection and checked baggage.
Peach Points
Peach flights can earn Peach Points when booked through your account. Note that you need to be registered on the Peach website in advance in order to collect these points.
Do note that points accrue based on the currency you pay for your flights with. This means that if you buy a flight departing Thailand (and pay in baht), it’ll accumulate a separate balance from domestic flights in Japan (whose Peach Points are in yen).
For this reason, I find the Peach Points system to have fairly limited utility.
Credit cards
The best way to leverage credit cards when flying with Peach is to use premium travel credit cards that earn bonus points on travel purchases.
When does flying Peach make sense?
Peach makes the most sense when you’re booking close to your travel date - I’ve found their fares stay cheap even when full-service carriers like ANA and Japan Airlines have doubled or tripled in price. During peak travel periods like Golden Week and Obon Festival, JAL and ANA flights can sell out entirely, making Peach your only option.
That said, if you’re booking far in advance, there’s often little price difference between Peach and full-service carriers, especially once you add ancillary charges for seats or bags. Peach also doesn’t fly anywhere that ANA and JAL don’t already serve.
At Kansai Airport, Peach operates from Terminal 2 - a bus ride from the railway station and a more basic facility compared to Terminal 1. You’ll find Peach also uses Terminal 1 at Tokyo-Narita for domestic flights, while they operate at Okinawa-Naha as well.
Price and availability
Well, as I hinted, timing can be a factor. For example, if your travel date is very soon, I’ve found that Peach fares can remain cheap, even as those on full-service airlines have doubled or tripled.
In fact, in very busy periods (such as Golden Week in May and the Obon Festival in August), JAL and ANA flights can be sold out entirely.
The Peach brand
I’ve also heard some of my Japanese friends say they think the festive Peach pink-and-orange branding adds an element of whimsy to the stressful travel experience, though I’ve never personally found this to be true.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
